Cancer researcher questions value of breast study

By Regina Cassell     Dec 29, 2001

A breast cancer researcher from the Kansas University Medical Center is questioning the impact of a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, indicated that using a breast pump to collect fluid from the nipple may be a simple and noninvasive way to gauge a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Researchers can analyze the fluid to detect abnormal cell growth, an indicator of increased breast cancer risk.

But Dr. Carol Fabian, a Med Center researcher, said the procedure isn’t as effective as a method tested at KU for 10 years. Fabian wrote an editorial to accompany the California study published in the Dec. 5 cancer journal.

The KU study, published last year, involved fine-needle aspiration, which used a needle to gather cells. About 500 patients were tested beginning in 1989.

Analyzing cells in both the KU and California studies was a more accurate predictor of cancer risk than markers such as family history, number of breast biopsies and the woman’s age when she first gave birth.

“It’s a very strong predictor for short-term risk for cancer,” Fabian said of the cell analysis. “You could make your estimates much more accurate by using these samples.”

About 60 percent of the 7,600 women tested in the California study were able to produce breast fluid using the suction pump. Those who produced fluid were more likely to develop cancer, and those who had abnormal cells were even more likely to develop cancer.

But Fabian warned that some women with abnormal cell growth might not have been able to produce breast fluid. Their increased cancer risk would go undetected, she said.

Fine-needle aspiration, though, almost always gathers adequate cell samples, she said.

KU Med will test another form of cell-gathering in April with a $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers will perform both fine-needle aspiration and ductal lavage, which uses a catheter inserted into the nipple to gather cells, on 125 patients. Those who show precancerous signs will be given Celibrex, a preventative medicine also used to treat arthritis.

The patients who take Celibrex will be sampled a year later to see if their abnormal cell growth has diminished.

The only drug used to prevent breast cancer now is Tamoxiphin, which can reduce the risk by 50 percent but can lead to uterine cancer, cataracts, and blood clots. Celibrex’s side effects include indigestion and diarrhea.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” Fabian said. “The good news is there’s a lot of medicines on the horizon that we and others will be testing in the future as breast cancer preventatives.”

Cancer researcher questions value of breast study

By Regina Cassell     Dec 29, 2001

A breast cancer researcher from the Kansas University Medical Center is questioning the impact of a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, indicated that using a breast pump to collect fluid from the nipple may be a simple and noninvasive way to gauge a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Researchers can analyze the fluid to detect abnormal cell growth, an indicator of increased breast cancer risk.

But Dr. Carol Fabian, a Med Center researcher, said the procedure isn’t as effective as a method tested at KU for 10 years. Fabian wrote an editorial to accompany the California study published in the Dec. 5 cancer journal.

The KU study, published last year, involved fine-needle aspiration, which used a needle to gather cells. About 500 patients were tested beginning in 1989.

Analyzing cells in both the KU and California studies was a more accurate predictor of cancer risk than markers such as family history, number of breast biopsies and the woman’s age when she first gave birth.

“It’s a very strong predictor for short-term risk for cancer,” Fabian said of the cell analysis. “You could make your estimates much more accurate by using these samples.”

About 60 percent of the 7,600 women tested in the California study were able to produce breast fluid using the suction pump. Those who produced fluid were more likely to develop cancer, and those who had abnormal cells were even more likely to develop cancer.

But Fabian warned that some women with abnormal cell growth might not have been able to produce breast fluid. Their increased cancer risk would go undetected, she said.

Fine-needle aspiration, though, almost always gathers adequate cell samples, she said.

KU Med will test another form of cell-gathering in April with a $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers will perform both fine-needle aspiration and ductal lavage, which uses a catheter inserted into the nipple to gather cells, on 125 patients. Those who show precancerous signs will be given Celibrex, a preventative medicine also used to treat arthritis.

The patients who take Celibrex will be sampled a year later to see if their abnormal cell growth has diminished.

The only drug used to prevent breast cancer now is Tamoxiphin, which can reduce the risk by 50 percent but can lead to uterine cancer, cataracts, and blood clots. Celibrex’s side effects include indigestion and diarrhea.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” Fabian said. “The good news is there’s a lot of medicines on the horizon that we and others will be testing in the future as breast cancer preventatives.”

Cancer researcher questions value of breast study

By Regina Cassell     Dec 29, 2001

A breast cancer researcher from the Kansas University Medical Center is questioning the impact of a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, indicated that using a breast pump to collect fluid from the nipple may be a simple and noninvasive way to gauge a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Researchers can analyze the fluid to detect abnormal cell growth, an indicator of increased breast cancer risk.

But Dr. Carol Fabian, a Med Center researcher, said the procedure isn’t as effective as a method tested at KU for 10 years. Fabian wrote an editorial to accompany the California study published in the Dec. 5 cancer journal.

The KU study, published last year, involved fine-needle aspiration, which used a needle to gather cells. About 500 patients were tested beginning in 1989.

Analyzing cells in both the KU and California studies was a more accurate predictor of cancer risk than markers such as family history, number of breast biopsies and the woman’s age when she first gave birth.

“It’s a very strong predictor for short-term risk for cancer,” Fabian said of the cell analysis. “You could make your estimates much more accurate by using these samples.”

About 60 percent of the 7,600 women tested in the California study were able to produce breast fluid using the suction pump. Those who produced fluid were more likely to develop cancer, and those who had abnormal cells were even more likely to develop cancer.

But Fabian warned that some women with abnormal cell growth might not have been able to produce breast fluid. Their increased cancer risk would go undetected, she said.

Fine-needle aspiration, though, almost always gathers adequate cell samples, she said.

KU Med will test another form of cell-gathering in April with a $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers will perform both fine-needle aspiration and ductal lavage, which uses a catheter inserted into the nipple to gather cells, on 125 patients. Those who show precancerous signs will be given Celibrex, a preventative medicine also used to treat arthritis.

The patients who take Celibrex will be sampled a year later to see if their abnormal cell growth has diminished.

The only drug used to prevent breast cancer now is Tamoxiphin, which can reduce the risk by 50 percent but can lead to uterine cancer, cataracts, and blood clots. Celibrex’s side effects include indigestion and diarrhea.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” Fabian said. “The good news is there’s a lot of medicines on the horizon that we and others will be testing in the future as breast cancer preventatives.”

Cancer researcher questions value of breast study

By Regina Cassell     Dec 29, 2001

A breast cancer researcher from the Kansas University Medical Center is questioning the impact of a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, indicated that using a breast pump to collect fluid from the nipple may be a simple and noninvasive way to gauge a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Researchers can analyze the fluid to detect abnormal cell growth, an indicator of increased breast cancer risk.

But Dr. Carol Fabian, a Med Center researcher, said the procedure isn’t as effective as a method tested at KU for 10 years. Fabian wrote an editorial to accompany the California study published in the Dec. 5 cancer journal.

The KU study, published last year, involved fine-needle aspiration, which used a needle to gather cells. About 500 patients were tested beginning in 1989.

Analyzing cells in both the KU and California studies was a more accurate predictor of cancer risk than markers such as family history, number of breast biopsies and the woman’s age when she first gave birth.

“It’s a very strong predictor for short-term risk for cancer,” Fabian said of the cell analysis. “You could make your estimates much more accurate by using these samples.”

About 60 percent of the 7,600 women tested in the California study were able to produce breast fluid using the suction pump. Those who produced fluid were more likely to develop cancer, and those who had abnormal cells were even more likely to develop cancer.

But Fabian warned that some women with abnormal cell growth might not have been able to produce breast fluid. Their increased cancer risk would go undetected, she said.

Fine-needle aspiration, though, almost always gathers adequate cell samples, she said.

KU Med will test another form of cell-gathering in April with a $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers will perform both fine-needle aspiration and ductal lavage, which uses a catheter inserted into the nipple to gather cells, on 125 patients. Those who show precancerous signs will be given Celibrex, a preventative medicine also used to treat arthritis.

The patients who take Celibrex will be sampled a year later to see if their abnormal cell growth has diminished.

The only drug used to prevent breast cancer now is Tamoxiphin, which can reduce the risk by 50 percent but can lead to uterine cancer, cataracts, and blood clots. Celibrex’s side effects include indigestion and diarrhea.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” Fabian said. “The good news is there’s a lot of medicines on the horizon that we and others will be testing in the future as breast cancer preventatives.”

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